Chess to Debut at 2025 Esports World Cup with Magnus Carlsen as Global Ambassador
Chess enthusiasts around the world are buzzing with excitement as the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced that chess will make its debut at the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This groundbreaking partnership between EWCF and Chess.com will bring competitive online chess to the forefront of the esports world, with none other than world No 1 and former world champion Magnus Carlsen as the global ambassador.
The Champions Chess Tour (CCT) will serve as the primary pathway to qualify for the EWC championship event, with two online Tour events in February and May offering a combined $300k prize pool. The top 12 players from the CCT will be invited to the EWC Chess tournament, which will take place between July 31 and August 3, 2025. Additionally, a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) will be held in Riyadh to determine four remaining spots for the competition.
Matches will be played in the rapid 10+0 Chess format, showcasing the strategic brilliance of the players while maintaining a quick pace. In the event of a tie, a single Armageddon game will serve as a tiebreaker. With a $1.5 million prize pool up for grabs, players will also compete for Esports World Cup Club Championship points.
Magnus Carlsen expressed his excitement about chess joining the prestigious Esports World Cup, stating, “This partnership is an incredible opportunity to grow the game, by introducing chess to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of players. Being part of the esports family is an amazing opportunity for chess to broaden its reach to a massive group of esports fans.”
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, echoed Carlsen’s sentiments, emphasizing the rich history, global appeal, and thriving competitive scene of chess as the perfect fit for the EWC’s mission to unite the world’s most popular games and their passionate communities under one competitive umbrella.
As the chess world gears up for its debut at the Esports World Cup in 2025, fans can expect to witness top-tier competition, strategic brilliance, and the timeless allure of the game that has captivated minds for centuries.